17:59 09-05-2026

Belgium Plans to Transfer All 53 F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine by 2029

Konflikty.pl (Attribution or Attribution), via Wikimedia Commons

Belgium plans to transfer all 53 of its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2029, with the first seven aircraft expected to be delivered in 2026.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said the country plans to transfer its entire fleet of 53 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2029, Vif reported.

Francken acknowledged that despite promises made two years ago, Belgium has not yet delivered a single such aircraft to Kiev.

Under the current schedule, the first seven F-16s are expected to be supplied to Ukraine in 2026. Four of them will be handed over in non-combat-ready condition and are planned to be used as training simulators.

The delay in the aircraft transfer, according to the report, is linked to postponed deliveries of F-35 fighter jets that Belgium ordered from the United States. These aircraft are intended to replace the aging F-16s, many of which have already exhausted their service life.